Donaghy studied at the Philadelphia Museum School of Art after which he pursued street photography in Philadelphia and New York City using a Leica 35mm camera. His first exhibition Two Young Philadelphians: Don Donaghy & George Krause, was held in 1962. Donaghy's first published work was a re-creation of this exhibition in the Fall 1962 issue of Contemporary Photographer, titled same as the show.[1][2]
The landmark exhibition and publication The New York School, Photographs 1936-63, by Jane Livingston, includes a selection of Donaghy's photographs. Donaghy is featured in "The Last Photographic Heroes: American Photographers of the Sixties and Seventies", by Gilles Mora.
In addition to photography, Donaghy worked as a film editor and a cameraman. While living in Boulder, CO, he was also a construction foreman. He died on July 23, 2008.
^ abcdeGeorge Eastman House Database (Web page with instructions for telnet access to database; database lists holdings of Don Donaghy photographs by Hallmark Photographic Collection, Museum of Modern Art, New York Public Library, George Eastman House, also cites exhibitions in 1963-64)